One thought on “What Is Meant By “Tarikat””

Initially it may appear as a bit complicated to take nahva ni Baaj with so many dos and dont, but once we get the hang of it, and practice regularly it becomes our second nature. All you have to know is Sarosh Baaj by heart, which i presume you know it. This is a very important Baaj for us Zarthustis to be done every day.

Before i put forward Nahva ni Baaj verbatim as mentioned from small booklet “Important Baaj prayers for a Zorastrian – Their utility in modern Times” in Gujrati and English. Book No 5 – By Cursetji M Patel – Published by Zarthoshti Din sahitya Mandal, i would like to briefly explain in my own words.

First remove all clothes in bathroom. Then in case of male cover your bare head with your left palm and right index finger on the navel.( in case of female opposite has to be followed) Then Start Sarosh Baaj from beginning Khasnothra ……,

Then pray till end of kemna Mazda prayers upto astavaitish ashahe. (and not to pray last word – i.e. to keep pending till end of bath the word- nemeshcha ya armaitish ijacha )

Then apply Taro or limbu juice to exposed parts of Body – Tanu. Take your bath. Come out wear Sudreh Kusti clothes as mentioned below. and then pray remaining sarosh Baaj. This is called as Baaj Chorvani. Before taking bath Baaj mukvani, and after taking bath Baaj chorvani.

With Kusti in your hand ,touch your left index finger to your navel and with your other right hand pay homage to spenta armaity by bowing down thrice whilst reciting Nemsascha armaitish …..( in case of female opposite has to be followed)

Then Remove your finger from the navel and recite Ahura Mazda Khodai and retie the kushti and then pray Jasa me Avanghe Mazda (just as you would recite while reciting the kushti prayers). After the above recitation pray as under:

Nahva ni Baaj or – Baaj to be recited and Tarikat to be observed while proceeding for a Bath explained again in detail.

Reference :- from small booklet “Important Baaj prayers for a Zorastrian – Their utility in modern Times” in Gujrati and English. Book No 5 – By Cursetji M Patel – Published by Zarthoshti Din sahitya Mandal

Proceed to the bathroom which should be preferably dry. After removing all the clothes including the footwear, one must stand in one place facing the appropriate direction as per the prevailing. That is in East direction in havan geh, south direction in Rapithvan geh, or west direction in Ugiran geh. If during night in the south direction. Than the left hand palm must be placed on the bare head Hand index and the index finger of the right hand must be placed on the navel.(Ladies must place their right hand on theirt bare hands and the left index finger on the navel) , after which the following Baaj may be recited, in whispering tone.

After the recitations, one must apply taro, if not then juice of sour lime(limbu) or a little ash from the household fire all over the body once or more than once, and wait for it to completely dry off( will take 5-10 seconds or more). Then proceed with the bath. All this must be completed without speaking in between. After the bath step out into a dry place, put on your clothes, hang your kushti around your neck(like a shawl) and then take the kusti in your hands, put your index finger (known as Bergishi finger- next to your thumb) on your navel (right hand for men, left hand for women) and recite

Nemsascha ya Armaitish Ijacha(3), Ashem Vohu (1).

Remove your finger from the navel and recite Ahura Mazda Khodai and retie the kushti and then pray Jasa me Avanghe Mazda (just as you would recite while reciting the kushti prayers). After the above recitation pray as under:

Note – Important points to remember:- keep all your clothes, etc. ready to avoid speaking and asking for things when you are without Sudreh/Kushti in the bath. Whilst removing clothes, first remove Kushti, then Sudreh, Pyjama, head gear and then footwear.

At the time of applying taro, one should think that the Good Lord will help him in trying to make his “Aipi” pure, due to which, the work of his “keherp” will be easy – may he discontinue to have bad thoughts, words, and deeds, may he remain away from sins, and do patet. May the body- Azda, and Aipi go on becoming pure, so that the “Keherp” gets nourishment throughout life and that after death the “se-shab” – halting period becomes less.

After this, when taro dries up, hands should be washed(again if male, right hand first, female opposite), water should be poured on the hand and body. Avoid taking bath facing North.

After the bath, whilst dressing, first head should be covered, then feet, then pyjama, then sudreh( if male right hand should be first in sleeve, if female left) Keep kushti on the shoulders, come out from the bath room, wash your face, dry it and complete the baaj. All this only if ideal conditions prevail. Not if you are rushing to catch the 8.20 fast train.

(whilst not entering into the significance of keeping palm on the head and indwex finger on the navel, suffice it to know that inner palm has the effect of the Moon,which when connected with the head takes over as Sarosh Yazad temporarily, who is away from an individual during this particular time, one may call this as invisible cap.

Navel and index finger both have Jupiterean effect. Near the Navel the battle between Spena, and Ghena (good and evil) usually goes on, and by keeping the Barjisi finger on the navel, the lower portion of the body, where putridity also accumulates, those organs will have the patience like Spenta Armaity- mother earth to remain in that hell-like place).